R&D PM Professional training program: Participant’s experience

Our R&D PM Professional is an advanced training program specifically designed for R&D project managers. Jari Yli-juuti, Program Manager at ABB, participated in autumn 2016.

Jari says he chose Project Institute’s training program since his colleagues recommended it. “Over the years I have participated quite a few training courses, but now I wanted to develop my competence in a more systematical and goal-directed way in a longer training program. This training for product development project managers suited that purpose very well”, he says.

Jari has vast experience of project and program management. “I have been involved in product development projects since 1989, first as a planner, and since 2005 in project steering groups. I have steered investment and process development projects for years, as well as developed the R&D project activities in our unit and worked as a project and program manager in product development.”

“I would describe this training program as interactive and versatile. The different aspects of project management were very well covered in through practical exercises.” Jari especially appreciated that participants represented several different companies, all working with namely product development. “It was interesting and thought-challenging to realize that our challenges were the same on one hand, but different on the other; we were able to reflect on our own ways of working while sharing experiences and best practices. “ The training program also covered PM areas related to IPMA C certification. This gives experienced project managers a good base for getting officially certified, Jari adds.

Back at work, Jari has continued using different facilitating and visualizing methods that he learned during the training program. At his next project kick-off, he wants to focus especially on work breakdown and risk management.

“I recommend this training program as competence development for fellow project and program managers”, Jari concludes.